Hygelac's pride and prowess as a fighter Although Hygelac was renowned for his pride and bravery as a warrior, were known to the earl; he had no confidence he was not confident of fighting against the troop of Swedes, that he could hold out against that horde of seamen, defending his wife and the ones he loved, for he was shocked by defend wife and the ones he loved such an unexpected attack. He moved back and waited the moment from the shock of the attack. He retreated for shelter to strike back, retreating for the shelter. behind the earthwall. Then Hygelac swooped Then Hygelac made a surprise attack on the Swedes at bay, on the Swedes at bay, his banners swarmed his troop invaded their shelter, the Geat forces were ready to defeat the Swedes. into their refuge, his Geat forces drove forward to destroy the camp. The aged king of the Swedes, Ongentheow was cornered, There in his grey hairs, Ongentheow was cornered, ringed around with swords his fate was in Eofor's hands, Wulf's brother. And it came to pass that the king's fate was in Eofor's hands, and in his alone. Then the sword of outraged Wulf attacked Ongentheow, Wulf, son of Wonred, went for him in anger, which exceedingly injured Ongentheow, blood spurted from under his hair. split him open so that blood came spurting However, this could not defeat the old hero, what returned was a harder stroke; from under his hair. The old hero the endless battle continued. still did not flinch, but parried fast, hit back with a harder stroke: the king turned and took him on. The fearless warrior Wulf could never crush Ongentheow; He divided his helmet and dropped it to the ground. Then Wonred's son, the brave Wulf,could land no blow against the aged lord. Ongentheow threw his helmet away to the ground. His bloodied head seemed to hurt severely, but he soon recovered again. Ongentheow divided his helmet so that he buckled and bowed his bloodied head
and dropped to the ground. But his doom held off. Though he was cut deep, he recovered again.
"With his brother down, the undaunted Eofor, Unlike his brother, mighty Eofor, one of Hygelac's great warriors, Hygelac's thane, hefted his sword was able to vanquish Ongentheow, by smashing the massive helmet with his sword. and smashed murderously at the massive helmet Eventually, the old but strong, powerful king has collapsed and finally the Geats were able to emerge victorious over the Swedes. past the lifted shield. And the king collapsed, the shepherd of people was sheared of life.
"Many then hurried to help Wulf, Then the troop of Geats rushed to help Wulf, bandaged and lifted him, now that they were left they are the only ones who survived in the brutal battle. masters of the blood-soaked battleground. The warriors carried to their lord Hygelac the spoils of war, which were Ongenthoew's , iron armor, sword, and his helmet. One warrior stripped the other, looted Ongentheow's iron mail-coat,
his hard sword-hilt, his helmet too, and carried the graith to King Hygelac; He gladly received the prize and promised the reward for their victory. he accepted the prize, promised fairly that reward would come, and kept his word. When the victorious Geats returned to their homeland, For their bravery in action, when they arrived home Eofor and Wulf were overloaded He kept his promise by giving Eofor and Wulf lands and linked rings which were worthy to their triumph. by Hrethel's son, Hygelac the Geat, with gifts of land and linked rings that were worth a fortune.
They had won glory, so there was no gainsaying his generosity. And for the additional reward, Hygelac honored Eofor with his only daughter. And he gave Eofor his only daughter to bide at home with him, an honour and a bond.
Translated Version -
Paraphrased Version -
Hygelac's pride and prowess as a fighter
Although Hygelac was renowned for his pride and bravery as a warrior,
were known to the earl; he had no confidence
he was not confident of fighting against the troop of Swedes,
that he could hold out against that horde of seamen,
defending his wife and the ones he loved, for he was shocked by
defend wife and the ones he loved
such an unexpected attack. He moved back and waited the moment
from the shock of the attack. He retreated for shelter
to strike back, retreating for the shelter.
behind the earthwall. Then Hygelac swooped
Then Hygelac made a surprise attack on the Swedes at bay,
on the Swedes at bay, his banners swarmed
his troop invaded their shelter, the Geat forces were ready to defeat the Swedes.
into their refuge, his Geat forces drove forward to destroy the camp.
The aged king of the Swedes, Ongentheow was cornered,
There in his grey hairs, Ongentheow was cornered, ringed around with swords
his fate was in Eofor's hands, Wulf's brother.
And it came to pass that the king's fate was in Eofor's hands, and in his alone.
Then the sword of outraged Wulf attacked Ongentheow,
Wulf, son of Wonred, went for him in anger,
which exceedingly injured Ongentheow, blood spurted from under his hair.
split him open so that blood came spurting
However, this could not defeat the old hero, what returned was a harder stroke;
from under his hair. The old hero
the endless battle continued.
still did not flinch, but parried fast, hit back with a harder stroke: the king turned and took him on.
The fearless warrior Wulf could never crush Ongentheow; He divided his helmet and dropped it to the ground.
Then Wonred's son, the brave Wulf,could land no blow against the aged lord.
Ongentheow threw his helmet away to the ground. His bloodied head seemed to hurt severely, but he soon recovered again.
Ongentheow divided his helmet so that he buckled and bowed his bloodied head
and dropped to the ground. But his doom held off. Though he was cut deep, he recovered again.
"With his brother down, the undaunted Eofor,
Unlike his brother, mighty Eofor, one of Hygelac's great warriors,
Hygelac's thane, hefted his sword
was able to vanquish Ongentheow, by smashing the massive helmet with his sword.
and smashed murderously at the massive helmet
Eventually, the old but strong, powerful king has collapsed and finally the Geats were able to emerge victorious over the Swedes.
past the lifted shield. And the king collapsed, the shepherd of people was sheared of life.
"Many then hurried to help Wulf,
Then the troop of Geats rushed to help Wulf,
bandaged and lifted him, now that they were left
they are the only ones who survived in the brutal battle.
masters of the blood-soaked battleground.
The warriors carried to their lord Hygelac the spoils of war, which were Ongenthoew's , iron armor, sword, and his helmet.
One warrior stripped the other, looted Ongentheow's iron mail-coat,
his hard sword-hilt, his helmet too, and carried the graith to King Hygelac;
He gladly received the prize and promised the reward for their victory.
he accepted the prize, promised fairly that reward would come, and kept his word.
When the victorious Geats returned to their homeland,
For their bravery in action, when they arrived home Eofor and Wulf were overloaded
He kept his promise by giving Eofor and Wulf lands and linked rings which were worthy to their triumph.
by Hrethel's son, Hygelac the Geat, with gifts of land and linked rings that were worth a fortune.
They had won glory, so there was no gainsaying his generosity.
And for the additional reward, Hygelac honored Eofor with his only daughter.
And he gave Eofor his only daughter to bide at home with him, an honour and a bond.